Rick Ankiel’s attempt to return to baseball as a pitcher will be delayed a bit. Yahoo Sports reports that Ankiel had ligament reattachment surgery in October. Per the report, Ankiel is looking at a return at some point next season.

Wait, what?

Yes, it’s true. That Rick Ankiel is trying to make a comeback as a pitcher after making a comeback as a position player. What a story this would be.

During his annual media scrum at Major League Baseball’s general manager meetings on Wednesday, Boras’s comments were arguably on par with the high-caliber talent levels of the numerous star athletes he represents.

Below is a compilation featuring some of Boras’s best remarks from his offseason session.

Warning: Many of these quotes are prime examples of what our British friends mean when they state that Mandy Rice-Davies ...

BOSTON—J.D. Martinez had such an impressive offensive season that he pulled off an unprecedented feat on Thursday, becoming the first player to win American League Silver Slugger Awards at two positions in the same season.

The right-handed-hitting masher, who helped the Red Sox win the World Series, received Silver Slugger Awards at designated hitter and outfielder.

The announcement came just three days after many were stunned when Martinez was not selected as one of the top three finalists ...

Even with some big chunks of money coming off the books, the Mets have strikingly little financial flexibility for a team coming off such a lousy season. According to the excellent Cot’s contracts page, New York is already projected to carry about $144 million in payroll next season, with about $46 million of that total tied up in projected arbitration awards. Syndergaard and deGrom project to earn about $22 million combined through arbitration in 2019, with a ...

Take this year’s AL MVP race. Betts led the league in WAR, will win the award, and deserves it. Hard to argue with Trout or Ramirez, either, based on performance, though I’m certainly open to the idea of an MVP coming from a winning team, and not Trout’s sub-.500 Angels.

But there are other deserving candidates whose WAR won’t give them a sniff. Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez is one of them. For five months, he flirted with the Triple Crown. Because he’s mostly a DH and no better than ...

While that contract would be the largest for a free agent, it would not surpass Giancarlo Stanton’s record-breaking 13-year, $325 million deal from 2014, nor would it surpass Zack Greinke’s $34.42 million for the highest average annual value. Harper has confirmed he is seeking a long-term deal, but accepting a contract with no opt-outs would lock Harper up for the entirety of his prime without giving him the chance to earn more money should player ...

Mike Zunino may not have to go far from his home in Gainesville, Fla., when the 2019 season begins.

Multiple Major League Baseball sources said the Mariners are finalizing a deal with their favorite trade partner, the Tampa Bay Rays. Seattle would send Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia and minor league left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer to Tampa in exchange for outfielder Mallex Smith and minor league outfielder Jake Fraley.

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

9. They were just willing to do this with Stanton
The Cardinals, by all accounts, were willing to take on Stanton’s entire contract last offseason. Stanton is signed through 2027 for a total of $270 million, nearly $33 million a year (when you account for a $10 million buyout in ‘28). Stanton is (obviously) a great player. But is he better than Harper? Probably not, right? And then remember that Harper is two years younger. Harper might get more than $33 ...

The A’s are sticking with their plan to increase the payroll, which was lowest in the majors at the start of last season. Forst and executive vice president Billy Beane met with owner John Fisher last week to discuss spending parameters.

“We didn’t leave with a number I can report to you,” Forst said. “John has been pretty consistent in being open to what we want to do so I think we feel we have some flexibility.”

One high-ranking club official in the National League said that last offseason, MLB started asking some clubs about potentially allowing pitchers and catchers to communicate with an earpiece, or the like. As an American League front office member noted: Why hasn’t that technology already been tested in the Arizona Fall League, or some other venue?

Now the matter is at least at the top of the docket. The next steps, however, are unclear.

While the offseason rumors simmer, the Astros’ front office is experiencing employee turnover. Sig Mejdal, one of the key figures in Houston’s data-driven front office, is moving on from the organization as Brian McTaggart of MLB.com notes here. Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports here that another key member of the front office, Ryan Hallahan, the Astros’ senior technical architect, will also leave the club.

And how’s this for intrigue? Before the Giants and Dodgers meet on the field next season, Zaidi and Friedman could find themselves in a more immediate form of competition. Zaidi is almost certain to hire a GM. Friedman, unless he decides to keep Zaidi’s former chair empty, will be in the market for one, himself. And here’s betting their lists will have some overlap.

Will Zaidi seek to renew with Billy Owens, his former colleague with ...

According to multiple people familiar with the negotiations, the Nationals discussed terms for a new deal with Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, throughout September. Those conversations led to what one person called “an aggressive offer.” That offer included no opt-outs, and was less than the $400 million some have speculated Harper could receive, according to a person with direct knowledge who would not disclose the exact terms.

“These guys are eager, man,” Woodward said during the first full day of the general managers meetings. “I don’t know how many games we’re going to win next year. Nobody does, but they don’t like the fact that people have low expectations for us. I think that’s important.

“They want to win. They’re not looking at this thing as we’re expected to lose 100 games or 90 games. They were mad. They weren’t happy about that. ...

Billy Wood says that a friend of his who is a former baseball player has started an eating house and has these signs around the place:

Club Sandwiches.
No Flies Around Here.
Game in Season from April to October.
Fowls Any Style.
Goose Eggs to Order.
Our Waiters Never Go Out on Strikes.
Ice Water in the Pitcher.
Don’t Make a Short Stop. Stay as Long as You Like.
You Can Get Beaned Here.
No Wheat Cakes Today. Batter Out.

I’ve always thought the best model for a franchise is one of sustained excellence.Unfortunately runs like the 90’s Braves and the current Dodgers usually get viewed as disappointments by typical fans, who possess short memories and poor perspectives.

The Braves and the Yankees showed the past and future in the 1990s. The Yankees won four of five World Series titles and three in a row. They are considered a dynasty, as it was known then. The Braves won the division year after year, but only one ...

Yesterday I listened to the interview with Boras shill Casey Stern (which you can listen to On Demand on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM). Although his hyperbolic shtick can be amusing in short doses, it wears thin in a half-hour interview.

Anyway, Boras rehashed a lot of the interview with reporters, including Dave O’Brien here.

“We have all kinds of evidence that anybody who’s done what Bryce Harper has done (at his age) — they’re Hall of Famers,” Boras said. “I can show it 12 ...